Sunday Morning in Ft. Myers

Sunday morning, Nov. 29--Doug and Matt took us along with them as they visited the Lamb of God Church, where some of Doug's university colleagues worship regularly. It is a new church, in the "emerging" church format. The Welcome Center out front shelters coffee and cookies before, between, and after worship. Picnic tables with umbrellas welcome people to visit and enjoy refreshments.

The church is a combined Lutheran (ELCA) and Episcopal congre- gation, one of only two in the United States. Tradi- tional services are held in The Arbor, the smaller of the auditorium spaces. This building also houses the children's program and offices. The grounds are being landscaped with native Florida plants, including some wild cotton that was ripening!


We attended the contem- porary service at 9 a.m. that meets in this building, The Vineyard. Like many contemporary settings, the hymn words were projected on screens, although there was a choir up front. Communion was open. The service had a very informal feel, but it was fairly slow paced. The greeters were friendly, and everyone wore name tags. We were approached only by Doug's colleagues, though. We met Brad and Kathleen, their three little girls, and Maggie and her son after church and headed to a nearby California Pizza Kitchen for brunch. Brad's office is next to Doug's at the university.


After lunch we came home, read the paper, and some of us took naps. I had just drifted off when Doug and Matt got back from walking Sam and burst in talking excitedly about an eagle in a tree on the condo property. So we all trekked outside to look at it. Here is the tree, with a small black spot in the upper left, with Doug and Norm in the foreground to give an idea of scale and distance.

And here is Mr. or Mrs. National Symbol, sunning in the pine near a lake. Matt says he frequently sees an eagle in this tree, and I read in a guide that Florida has more eagles than any other state in the union. They nest here and live here year round. (On Monday when Norm and I took a walk, the eagle was in the tree, on a different branch, as well.)

By now it was time to head out for the beach, to watch an evening sunset. Norm and Matt compared notes in front of the condo where Doug and Matt live. The upper room above the garage is the guest room where Norm and I are staying on this visit.